A Village Near Þingvallavatn Lake, Iceland- Tuesday night, 945 AD

[solo_sword]

Jaina liked when the island traveled. She liked getting out and seeing the new places and the people and how they did things. She traveled all the time back home, but she never got to really see much, and frankly when you were usually chasing after criminals, you weren't in the best areas anyway. So not only did she get to check out someplace new, she got to do so with an actual Viking. One who spoke English, even.

As they headed towards the tavern to meet some of the locals- and possible viewing of barfights- she said, "This is going to be so different with someone who can actually understand the language."


[For that Viking vampire.]

Comments

[texted3times]

"Oh, they'll totally want to hear it. The names of who I vanquish will just change slightly."

[solo_sword]

"Vanquish. There's a word you don't hear much," Jaina said, shaking her head. And because it was true, she added, "I so wish I had more time to get to know you better."

[Play nice, LJ.]

[texted3times]

He smiled at her, looking almost wistful. "You're pretty interesting for a human yourself."

[solo_sword]

"High compliment," she grinned. "That just means I'll have to make a point to come bother you when I'm back in town. Even if I don't get a story out of it."

[texted3times]

"Definitely," Eric said. "I'll even buy you a drink."

[solo_sword]

"I'm remembering you said that." She wouldn't, not really, but she'd remember she had an excuse to go see him.

[texted3times]

"You mean you don't remember everything I say? I'm hurt," Eric replied.

[solo_sword]

"Of course I do. What was your name again?" she teased. "Does that mean you remember everything I say?"

[texted3times]

"Only the parts that are about me," Eric replied in the same tone.

[solo_sword]

She didn't actually believe that for a second, but that didn't stop her from dryly replying, "I should have known."

[texted3times]

"I'm amazingly vain," Eric told her. "Ask anyone."

And the unobservant even bought that.

[solo_sword]

"Huh," she said. "I never would have figured. You've always been so humble..."

[texted3times]

He laughed. "Oh, definitely. Shy, even."

[solo_sword]

"I mean, it's a wonder I ever even noticed you." Okay, she actually had noticed him because first he'd come into the bar on her night, and second she'd just walked into the closed building he owned, but, details.

[texted3times]

"It helps that I'm really tall," he told her sincerely.

[solo_sword]

Jaina laughed. "Yeah, it's a little hard for all your humility to hide that. Luckily."

[texted3times]

"Without it, I'd just pass unnoticed through life."

Yeah, not likely.

[solo_sword]

At that, she grinned. "Yeah, I can't play along with a straight face anymore."

[texted3times]

"You lasted longer than I thought you would," he said, looking a little impressed.

[solo_sword]

"I was kind of curious how far you'd be able to go with it," she admitted. "Or I would have stopped much earlier." And there'd probably have been a good-natured eyeroll to go with it.

[texted3times]

"I'm patient," he teased.

[solo_sword]

She paused. "Yeah, after finding out just that true that is, I probably shouldn't have tried to wait you out on that one."

[texted3times]

His eyes twinkled at her. "Probably. I've heard it's a good thing when a man takes a long time."

[solo_sword]

She was closing in on twenty-eight years old and could still blush a little at phrasing like that. "Well, you won't hear me complaining."

[texted3times]

"It's been a very long time since someone has complained," he said with a smirk.

Well, other than Talbot.